How do we learn to solve problems? Which techniques do we use?
Problem Solving
Recognise problem solving techniques in real-life. Watch the following videos Watch how this Chimpanzee figured out how to get the peanut. Consider theses questions:
Recognise how to identify cause and effect using an Ishikawa diagram Watch and read about Ishikawa diagrams The Ishikawa Diagram, also known as the Cause and Effect Diagram and the Fishbone Diagram, gives a visual picture of the factors contributing to a problem as well as possible relationships, or causes, between problems. View this video to review the Ishikawa Diagram. At the end of this video you should know:
Read the following notes
The 5 Whys Technique can be used after completing the Fishbone Diagram to further explore the cause and effect relationships within a problem.
Here is an example:
Problem Statement: You are on your way home and your car stops in the middle of the road.
1st Why: Why did your car stop?
Because it ran out of petrol.
2nd Why: Why did it run out of petrol?
Because I didn't buy any on the way home.
3rd Why: Why didn't you buy any petrol this morning?
Because I didn't have any money.
4th Why: Why didn't you have any money?
Because it fell out of my pocket.
5th Why: Why did you put the money in your pocket?
Because I don't have anywhere else to put it.
Root Cause: Money needs to be kept in a secure place like a wallet.
Use 5 Whys Technique as a Group
In small teams, identify a problem that students face at school, work, or when participating in extra-curricular activities. Construct a fishbone diagram to identify the causes and effects. Determine a root cause by completing the 5 Whys Test. Share your results with another group.
The 5 Whys Test can be conducted using ClassTools Prioritizer
Prioritiser - Could be useful for ranking options and saying WHY you do this option.
Wallwishers are used to give feedback and to interact with others ideas.
Add a comment to the Wallwisher
Consequence Map
Consequence maps help you visually identify ongoing-consequences of an event or action on a range of stakeholders. Discuss consequences In your team discuss how a consequence map could be used to solve problems.
Note: Print out or save the completed Consequence map to retain contributions. This map will reset every time the page is reloaded.
Wiki Comments
Wiki comments allow you to add comments in a structured format.
Comment on problem solving methods What methods have you used in solving problems? Share your successes by adding to the table below.
Subject
Author
Replies
Views
Last Message
No Comments
Checkpoint! Congratulations, you have completed the Tool Test! Before you move on to the Problem Solving topic, you should be familiar with the following tools:
Tool Test
Table of Contents
Problem Solving
Recognise problem solving techniques in real-life.Watch how this Chimpanzee figured out how to get the peanut. Consider theses questions:
(Tehinfidel, 2008)
The next video that shows how sometimes we need others to help us solve problems. Consider these questions:
(Tehinfidel, 2008)
Ishikawa Diagram
Recognise how to identify cause and effect using an Ishikawa diagramThe Ishikawa Diagram, also known as the Cause and Effect Diagram and the Fishbone Diagram, gives a visual picture of the factors contributing to a problem as well as possible relationships, or causes, between problems. View this video to review the Ishikawa Diagram. At the end of this video you should know:
(Eoloughlin, 2009)
Watch these videos that describe how to construct an Ishikawa Diagram (also known as a Fishbone Diagram) using ClassTools and Excel.
Using ClassTools...
Click here for larger version
Note: Print out or save the completed Fishbone to retain contributions. This Fishbone Diagram will reset every time the page is reloaded.
using Excel...
(Valuestreamguru, 2010)
5 Whys Technique
Understand how to use the 5 Whys Technique.The 5 Whys Technique can be used after completing the Fishbone Diagram to further explore the cause and effect relationships within a problem.
Here is an example:
Problem Statement: You are on your way home and your car stops in the middle of the road.
- 1st Why: Why did your car stop?
- Because it ran out of petrol.
- 2nd Why: Why did it run out of petrol?
- Because I didn't buy any on the way home.
- 3rd Why: Why didn't you buy any petrol this morning?
- Because I didn't have any money.
- 4th Why: Why didn't you have any money?
- Because it fell out of my pocket.
- 5th Why: Why did you put the money in your pocket?
- Because I don't have anywhere else to put it.
Root Cause: Money needs to be kept in a secure place like a wallet.In small teams, identify a problem that students face at school, work, or when participating in extra-curricular activities. Construct a fishbone diagram to identify the causes and effects. Determine a root cause by completing the 5 Whys Test. Share your results with another group.
The 5 Whys Test can be conducted using ClassTools Prioritizer
Prioritiser - Could be useful for ranking options and saying WHY you do this option.
Click here for larger version
Note: Print out or save the completed Whys Test to retain contributions. This Whys Test will reset every time the page is reloaded.
OR, by using this template
5 Whys Template
Wallwisher
Wallwishers are used to give feedback and to interact with others ideas.Consequence Map
Consequence maps help you visually identify ongoing-consequences of an event or action on a range of stakeholders.
In your team discuss how a consequence map could be used to solve problems.
Consequence Map
Click here for larger version
Note: Print out or save the completed Consequence map to retain contributions. This map will reset every time the page is reloaded.
Wiki Comments
Wiki comments allow you to add comments in a structured format.What methods have you used in solving problems? Share your successes by adding to the table below.
Congratulations, you have completed the Tool Test! Before you move on to the Problem Solving topic, you should be familiar with the following tools: